“The NCAA national office has uncovered an issue of improper conduct within its enforcement program that occurred during the University of Miami investigation,” began a statement released by the organization on Wednesday.

The statement continued: “Former NCAA enforcement staff members worked with the criminal defense attorney for Nevin Shapiro to improperly obtain information for the purposes of the NCAA investigation through a bankruptcy proceeding that did not involve the NCAA. As it does not have subpoena power, the NCAA does not have the authority to compel testimony through procedures outside of its enforcement program.”

In other words, the NCAA—positioned in recent months by president Mark Emmert as a bastion of integrity—dug up dirt on Miami that it shouldn’t have been able to find.

Talk about a lack of institutional control: Emmert, in a conference call with reporters, admitted the NCAA was billed by Shapiro’s attorney but claimed not to know when the attorney was hired or who authorized the decision to do so.

“This is obviously a shocking affair,” Emmert said.

So, while former booster Nevin Shapiro sits in federal prison for masterminding a Ponzi scheme and Miami (not to mention Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith) awaits a now-postponed notice of allegations from the NCAA, college sports’ home office will focus on itself as it submits to an external investigation of its enforcement division.

That review will be led by Kenneth L. Wainstein, a former FBI general counsel and Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, who was retained by the NCAA.

Wainstein will have to wade through a mountain of egg on the faces of investigators and, especially, Emmert.

As for the Miami investigation, any information obtained improperly will be thrown out, Emmert said.

“To say the least,” Emmert said in the statement released by the NCAA, “I am angered and saddened by this situation. Trush and credibility are essential to our regulatory tasks.”